Submitted By: Doug Bush, Supervisor
Each year the Tygarts Valley Conservation District recognizes cooperators in our area who have implemented conservation methods to improve their farm’s productivity. These farms are used as an example to other cooperators to encourage better resource management, create new conservation practices and to get cooperators to become more involved with their agriculture community. This year our District has chosen the following farms; Stoneridge Farm of Tucker County and its cooperators Kim and Kermit Bennett, Steve Winslow and family of Barbour County, Mike and Gary Morris of Taylor County, and Gary and Karen Elbon of Upshur County.
Nestled in the beautiful surroundings of mountains, rich high meadows and pastures of Tucker County, Kim Bonner Bennett and her son, Kermit Bennett run Stoneridge Farms. Together they manage over 500 acres with 100 head of brood cattle and calves. It’s hard work considering both have other interests and occupations outside of farming. They are able to do all of this because they had a great teacher. The late Kermit Bonner, loving husband, father and grandfather, set the standard high for work and achievement on the farm. Like most farmers, Kermit Bonner had to master many skills to be a success. Welder, mechanic, fabricator, carpenter, plumber, veterinarian and engineer, Kermit did it all. His greatest accomplishment was to pass this knowledge and the love of farming down to his children and grandchildren. After Kermit Bonner passed last December, Kim and Kermit Bennett haven’t stopped the progress on Stoneridge Farm. Division fencing, spring developments, cattle handling areas and fighting evasive species have all recently been addressed. The District staff toured a remarkable cattle handling area and saw millet being harvested for cattle feed. Kermit Bennet has taken the leadership role on Stoneridge. He ambitiously described his future plans for fencing, water development and cattle handling. His youthful excitement energized all of us. There is no doubt he will accomplish all of his dreams and more for Stoneridge Farms. What a wonderful afternoon our District spent under a shade tree eating cookies and spending time with this family. Ruth Bonner, our hostess, made us feel like old friends. God has blessed this family.
Representing Barbour County, Steve Winslow farms 1200 acres in southern Barbour County running 42 cows and calves. He is intelligent, hardworking and involved in multiple farming ventures. Some of Steve’s acreage is shared with a coal mining company. Rather than to be discouraged, Steve has learned to become flexible and adjust to the challenges. Out of all of the farms we looked at this year, Winslow farm participates in the most conservation projects. He currently has over 200 conservation practices he is working to complete on multiple farms. These practices include water development, fencing, reseeding heavy use areas, litter application and building the farm’s first high tunnel. The District staff toured his high tunnel which was packed with growing vegetables. I asked what he did with what he couldn’t consume? I wanted to know about his market and where he sold his bounty. His answer was that he gives it to family and friends. If you are Steve’s friend or in his family maybe you should visit him, come harvest time.
I was lucky to have had Steve Winslow’s children as a teacher. John, Chris and Chelsea were great students and exceptional people. It isn’t a surprise that all three went into agriculture professionally. Farming and fathering are somehow linked. I asked Steve to give advice to young farmers just starting in the field. Steve’s answer was insightful. “Start off with something you can handle. In farming it is easy to get overwhelmed with the time and hard work farming demands.” Good advice from an accomplished farmer. Congratulations to Steve Winslow, Barbour County’s farm and farmer of the year.
Mike and Gary Morris’s farm outside of Flemington is Taylor County’s Conservation Farm of the year. Each year the Tygarts Valley District tries to distinguish farmers who have used conservation methods on their farm to increase it productivity. The selection process would be easy if we were judging on farm size and number of programs completed but consideration is also influenced by the wide variety of agricultural ventures. The Morris farm is an example of a farm that isn’t the largest but has made itself unique by taking advantage of available opportunities to improve their particular interests in agriculture. Mike and Gary do not have cattle but have chosen to harvest hay for market on their 48 acres. The Morris farm wanted to increase hay production and improve the quality of their product. They started with soil testing. Seeing the results, they limed their fields and used litter to increase the organic material and fertility of their soil. The results pleased them with more high-quality hay.
In 1919 the Morris’s grandparents, John and Mary Marus, came to Taylor County to raise their family from Budapest, Hungary. The same farm they started with was passed down to Mike and Gary’s parents, Mike and Margaret Morris. Through the years the farm has provided for multiple generations. Mike and Gary ventured into other occupations but still have kept their farming interests alive in Taylor County. Before I left, I took a picture of Mike and Gary standing side by side. It reminded me of my brothers on our family farm. There are so many tasks on the farm that you can’t do by yourself. Who else would you want by your side than a brother? Congratulations to Mike and Gary Morris and their family farm in Taylor County.
Gary and Karen Elbon farm in French Creek is Upshur County’s Conservation Farm of the year for Tygarts Valley Conservation District. When you pull up to the Elbon Farm you can see that the Elbon’s pay attention to detail. Hay is mowed, fence lines trimmed, outbuildings painted and everything is in order. Their farm belongs on a cover of a magazine. The Elbon’s run 34 head of cattle on about 190 acres. They work with Gary’s brother David whose farm sits next to theirs. The Elbons have been busy with many conservation practices. They have built exclusion and access fencing, developed springs, protected heavy use areas, planted pasture and hay field, irrigated areas, and installed watering troughs to reach cattle in different pasture areas. The Elbon farm sits in one of the prettiest agriculture areas in Upshur County. Multiple family farms are worked in this French Creek area. All are well kept and managed. If you love to look at farms and farmland, take a drive along the county roads of French Creek, Slab Camp and Frenchton. You won’t be disappointed. You will appreciate the hard work that has been done for years and maybe get to meet some exceptional people. Congratulations to Upshur County’s Conservation farmers of the year, Gary and Karen Elbon.
